Online basketball betting sites 2024
Basketball has always been an integral part of American history, skyrocketing in popularity in 1972 with a record 63-0 win at the Summer Olympics.
Now in 2024, Time2play reporters are keeping history alive by telling you where and how to bet on NBA and NCAA basketball events at the best basketball betting sites.
In brief: The top 9 US sportsbooks for basketball 2024
- 🥇 Sportzino — Basketball betting markets: 403
- 🥈 BetRivers — Basketball betting markets: 230
- 🥉 bet365 — Basketball betting markets: 117
- SugarHouse — Basketball betting markets: 149
- Caesars — Basketball betting markets: 155
- Crab Sports — Basketball betting markets: 25
- Borgata — Basketball betting markets: 48
- BetMGM — Basketball betting markets: 35
- Thrilzz — Basketball betting markets: 43
| Sportsbook logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to sportsbook Button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
Time2play's choice
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96/100 Sports and markets rating by Paul P. 91% Playscore based on |
Up to 200,000 Gold Coins + 9 Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
6 payment methods 
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2
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91/100 Sports and markets rating by Ian Z. 86% Playscore based on |
Second Chance Bet of up to $250
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Play now |
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6 payment methods 
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3
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81/100 Sports and markets rating by Ian Z. 89% Playscore based on |
Bet $5 get $200 in Bonus Bets or $1000 First Bet Safety Net
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Play now |
Good to know
8 payment methods 
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21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler (call or text in Colorado). |
4
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81/100 Sports and markets rating by Ramona D. 89% Playscore based on |
Second Chance Bet of up to $500
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Play now |
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10 payment methods
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5
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76/100 Sports and markets rating by Ian Z. 94% Playscore based on |
Up to $1,000 back as a Bonus Bet on your first wager
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9 payment methods
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6
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73/100 Sports and markets rating by Paul P. 79% Playscore based on |
$500 First Bet Insurance
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4 payment methods
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7
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68/100 Sports and markets rating by Ian Z. 85% Playscore based on |
Bet $20 get $100 in Free Bets
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14 payment methods
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8
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59/100 Sports and markets rating by Anna M. 91% Playscore based on |
Up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
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Good to know
14 payment methods
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9
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40/100 Sports and markets rating by Paul P. 81% Playscore based on |
Spend $10 get $30 of Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
7 payment methods
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Top three basketball betting sites: a closer look
How do you know if a sportsbook is good for betting on basketball? It’s not just about whether or not they have the sport available you know.
Our reporters have picked the three best basketball betting sites for the events they offer, the large number of betting options, live basketball streams on desktop and mobile, as well as their overall sportsbook offering.
🥇#1 Sportzino — Best overall experience
If you’re looking for the best basketball betting site, you can’t do much better than Sportzino. The social sportsbook offers 403 markets in basketball, three markets in e-basketball, and live betting for all these matches, all without needing to spend a dime.
Sportzino offers monthly bonuses such as coupons and boosted odds on big tournaments, which go well alongside Sportzino’s daily login bonus of 20,000 GC and one SC.
If you tire of betting on basketball matches, Sportzino offers novelty bets such as props on who will win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. It’s the most complete basketball betting experience on any betting site.
🥈#2 BetRivers — Best for basketball promos
What’s better than one good basketball promo? Multiple basketball promos, of course. BetRivers already has a solid welcome bonus of a 100% deposit match up to $250, but it also regularly rotates offers based on ongoing tournaments.
Currently, BetRivers offers a 20% profit boost for live NBA bets made on Tuesdays and a 20% profit boost for NCAAB bets made on Thursdays. This is alongside the odds boosts, parlay boosts, VIP program, refer-a-friend, and $1,000,000 prize pool offered by BetRivers sportsbook. You won’t be left wanting for promos here.
🥉#3 bet365 — Best for player props
Bet365 lives up to its industry-leader reputation with a well-rounded basketball offer for NBA and NCAAB March Madness betting. You’ll find competitive odds on moneylines, totals, and spreads, but where bet365 really stands out is in player props.
Back your team’s players with Player Milestone bets on points scored, assists, rebounds, and threes made. Over/under markets are also available, covering points, points low, and points high.
Look out for bet boosts as well — you’re guaranteed to find three-leg parlay boosts in time for game day.
Best basketball betting sites for leagues and events
A good basketball sportsbook doesn’t only have the major leagues such as the NBA or NCAAB available. It will also let you bet on smaller leagues, or even friendly matches from foreign countries.
Availability is of course a bit factor (not every sportsbook will have e-basketball leagues available), but it’s also about the promos, mobile app, and overall offering. For instance, BetMGM takes the win for the NBA due to its unique prop bets for the league.
| League / event | Top basketball betting sites | Notable market(s) |
|---|---|---|
| National Basketball Association (NBA) | BetMGM sportsbook | NBA season specials |
| Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) | Caesars sportsbook | 2024 WNBA Championship winner |
| College Basketball (NCAAB) | bet365 sportsbook | Player milestones |
| Basketball Champions League (BCL) | BetRivers sportsbook | FIBA CL futures |
| E-basketball | Sportzino sportsbook | Outright winner |
Betting strategies for basketball
Bet on the teams you know
Knowledge is power in sports betting, and chances are the team you’re the most informed of is your own. You’ll be able to make informed basketball bets, and the research will be more enjoyable since they’re your favorite. Win-win.
Look up head-to-head stats
Teams tend to have some history with each other, and will often adapt their strategy accordingly. A home team with a strong attack is probably going to win against an away team with a weak defense, so account for that.
Know the numbers
There are loads of statistics to consider, such as which player is good at stealing or which team can score regular three-pointers. Betting is a numbers game, so keep an eye on the stats.
Shop for the best lines
Basketball betting lines fluctuate depending on the sportsbook, stats, and time. Early bets tend to have better lines, so consider comparing futures for tournaments at different sportsbooks, and pick the one with the best odds.
Stay informed
Keep your eyes on the news. A popular team might suddenly have an injured player, or an underdog might have a streak of unprecedented wins and be on excellent form. Basketball is an evolving sport, and you don’t want to be left behind when change happens.
Bet slowly
Pace yourself when placing bets, and set limits on your time, deposits, and losses. Remember, it’s not just about the payout; the knowledge gained from slowly betting and watching games is invaluable. If you notice signs of problem behavior, contact an organization from the links provided by sportsbooks.
Types of basketball bets
Moneyline
These are your common bets, where each team is given a value based on their probability of winning a game. A match might have the Chicago Bulls at -165 and the Dallas Mavericks at +300, with the + value odds being the underdog and the – value odds being the favorite.
Over-unders
Over-unders, or “totals”, are wagers based on the combined total score of a game. A sportsbook might give you a total, say 150 points between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Arizona Wildcats, and you’d simply bet if the combined total score will be over or under 150.
Spreads
Point spreads are bets on the gap between two teams. Be warned, the favorite has to win by more than the designated spread to cover the bet, while the underdog only needs to lose by less than the spread to cover.
Handicapping
Handicap bets add a little excitement by putting conditions on your bets. If betting on the Chicago Bulls to win seems dull, you could instead add a -3 handicap, meaning they need to win by 3 points or it’s still a loss.
Props
The strange little bets that don’t fit anywhere else. Proposition bets, or “props”, “novelty”, or “side” bets, can be anything from fouls committed to backflips committed.
Futures
Similar to moneyline bets, these bets are available far in advance of events such as NBA and NCAA events, letting you try and predict the winner in the future.
Parlays
Why place five small bets, when you can combine them all into one huge parlay? Parlays have a high-risk, potentially high-reward format, letting you combine lots of bets into one with a multiplier for each added bet. Be warned — losing just one bet loses the whole parlay.
Derivatives
A type of bet derived from spreads, totals, and moneylines, derivative betting let you place bets on parts of a match, such as the second half. If you notice a team has particular habits during one half of a match, you could place a derivative.How to pick the best basketball betting sites
If you want to pick the best sportsbooks, we suggest looking at the odds, promos, and live services that each site offers, specifically the ones surrounding basketball. You should also look at the sportsbook’s overall safety, support, and ease of navigation, and if it has an app for mobile basketball betting.
Odds
You want to find a sportsbook with competitive odds. Make sure that the sportsbook offers fair average payout percentages above 93%, or perhaps even a boosted odds promo for NBA or NCAA leagues.
Promos
It wouldn’t be a good sportsbook if it didn’t have great sportsbook offers. Having at least three ongoing promos such as refer-a-friend and VIP programs is a huge plus, but do also try to look for basketball-specific promos. If a sportsbook has seasonal offers around ongoing tournaments, there’s a good chance it will have something for basketball.
Features and live streams
Watching the action unfold in real-time can give you an informational advantage when betting. The best basketball live-betting sportsbooks will offer streams to see the games live and will have in-depth data displayed with updated odds. Having some nifty betting features like same-game parlays and early cashout is also something to look out for.
League coverage
What leagues and tournaments does the sportsbook offer? Having the NBA is a no-brainer, but what about the WNBA, NCAAB, or even international leagues such as the EuroLeague? It’s important not just to have these leagues available, but also for them to have plenty of betting options, and to be available for live and mobile basketball betting.
Overall offering
It’s not just about basketball, you also want to bet on a good overall sportsbook. That means a site that’s easy and intuitive to navigate, has plenty of customer support options, and is safe and licensed by your state’s license provider. The site should also have a mobile app, so you can bet on basketball on the go.
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